Who am I?

Robin, who was appointed Chief Administrative Officer for Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle in 2011, is also a former state representative who served within the 2nd District. Robin already enjoys a broad base of support from the grassroots community, civic and business leaders and elected officials within the diverse district, which includes portions of urban and suburban, and rural areas.

The first African American woman to serve as chief of staff for a constitutional officer in Illinois, Robin has pursued a progressive agenda rooted in promoting small business job creation, investment strategy innovation, eliminating food deserts and advancing financial literacy in underserved areas.

As a former State Representative of the 38th District, Robin brings extensive legislative experience to the 2nd Congressional District. She successfully sponsored bills to protect consumers from fraud, support economic development, and increase the minimum wage. She also led the fight for landmark legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and improve public safety.

During her tenure in the Illinois Legislature, Robin mentored progressive candidates and encouraged new leaders, including one of her colleagues, Barack Obama, in his successful 2004 bid for U.S. Senate.

Why am I running?

I have been successful at all levels of government that are not federal, and have served as an elected official, chief of staff, and C-level officer. I truly believe that I was put on this Earth to be a public servant, as cliche as that may sound, and I want to serve in Washington in order to continue working for the people.

My Goals

My DFA Values

I share DFA's commitment to community, security and liberty. I believe that every child deserves a quality education, regardless of zip code or socioeconomic status, and to live in a safe neighborhood, free of violence. I believe that every American should have the opportunity to prosper, with access to job training, education, the funds to start a business if they choose, and that no one should be without healthcare, Medicare, or Social Security. I believe that everyone has the right to marry who they love, and work and live in an environment free from discrimination, as well as the right to privacy from the outside, including our government.

My Campaign is People Powered!

My campaign is about people talking to people. We have knocked over 70,000 doors and made around 80,000 phone calls, with a huge proportion of that coming from volunteers, not paid staff. I have also relied on over 5000 small donors to help me raise over $400,000 so far. My campaign is for the people, and is powered by them.

Voice support

About the Endorsement Process

The driving force behind all DFA endorsements is our members. We recognize that all politics is local and that what is considered progressive in Los Angeles may be very different from what's considered progressive in Louisville. For this reason, DFA does not have a litmus test of specific progressive positions for which a candidate must stand. Our endorsement is heavily weighted based on these questions:

• Will the candidate move the progressive movement forward in their community?
• Does the candidate have substantial support from our local members?
• Do the candidate's positions and policies fit into the broader progressive movement?
• Is the campaign people-powered and the candidate working to win?

If you have questions, or want to let us know about a candidate in your neighborhood, please call us at (802) 651-3200 or email us at [email protected] .